Honours program

The Geography Honours Program offers fourth year undergraduate students the opportunity to undertake a concentrated course of studies related specifically to their interests. For details, see the Honours Program Info Pack and Application Form.

Information for prospective students

Undergraduate students considering future graduate work will find that the Honours Program provides them with certain advantages in comparison with a Major degree program. The formulation of an Honours Thesis, with its associated skills development (e.g., literature review, field work, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing and oral examination), affords invaluable research experience. Entry into many graduate schools is facilitated by completion of an Honours Program, which may also provide some advantages when competing for jobs.

Besides catering to prospective graduate students, the Honours Program also provides an intellectually stimulating and satisfying program for any undergraduate who wishes to pursue a unique opportunity to develop their in-depth knowledge of specific areas within geography.

The Honours Program is undertaken over two consecutive terms. While January to August and May to December are possible, September to April is strongly recommended and generally produces the best experience for the majority of students. There is always the option to collect data and/or secure approval for ethics applications (if applicable) in the summer prior to commencing the program in consultation with your supervisor.

Applying

Students entering the Honours Program must secure a supervisor prior to acceptance in the program.

The application deadlines are the first day of classes in the semester.

The program is divided into two courses GEOG 499A (1.5 units) and GEOG 499B (1.5 units) that culminate in the completion of a supervised research project chosen by the student (the Honours Thesis) and presented and defended in an oral exam.

The main tasks of GEOG 499A are to develop the research proposal, begin the literature review, get the ethics review in place if necessary, and collect data. GEOG 499B may involve ongoing data collection, data analysis, writing, and defending the thesis.

Georgia Clyde (2013)
Integrating the Regulation of Run-of-River Hydroelectric Development in British Columbia

Throughout the past decade, B.C. has experienced accelerated development of private-lead run-of-river hydroelectric projects. This rapid expansion of run-of-river projects has continued without a sufficient regulatory framework in place to evaluate potential cumulative impacts.

My honors research reviewed the regulations applicable to run-of-river development, evaluated the regulations’ ability to consider cumulative impacts, and proposed a preferable way forward through a more comprehensive framework.

Representatives from the Environmental Assessment Office, environmental advocacy groups, and biologists from environmental organization were interviewed.

My results revealed an inadequate level of assessment regarding cumulative impacts and showed there is great potential for a strategic level assessment framework for run-of-river projects in BC.

My findings also pointed to an uncertain future and paralysis of BC Hydro.

Kayla Cheeke (2013)Defending the Caves at SPAET: Conflict and Ecological Citizenship in the Post-Democratic Growth Machine

My thesis, supervised by Dr. Cam Owens, was a case study about land-use conflict over the Bear Mountain Resort and Leigh Road Interchange projects located on and around SPAET, a mountain in Langford, BC.

I analyzed in-depth interviews and secondary research about the case using a “framing typology” framework developed by geographer Deborah Shmueli (2008).

Through this framework I argued that a post-democratic form of politics focused on growth characterized the political context for mobilizing ecological citizenship in the case of SPAET.

Get into some Feminist Geography this Thrusday evening at the University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries. Geographer Ebru Ustundag of Brock University will be exploring debates around sex-work and social citizenship as she maps out the social geographies of contemporary cities. Free to attend! Doors open at 7pm. Part of the #CityTalks series! http://www.thecitytalks.ca/

This week we've got two amazing lectures coming up with Dr. James A. Estes of UC Santa Cruz. He'll be speaking on why megafauna matter Thursday at 5pm in the Human & Social Development building room 240, and again this Friday in DTB B215 at the usual 2:30 pm time. Refreshments will be served early at both events!